Karen Kelly Beresford has been the Executive Director with the Exploits Valley Community Coalition (EVCC) in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland for the past 17 years. EVCC offers Family Resource Centres and Healthy Baby Clubs across the Exploits region of Newfoundland. She is also responsible for the day-to-day operations of a federally funded project that focuses on children and families through supportive programing and services by Community Action Program for Children and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program.

Karen has a strong understanding of the determinants of health; the importance of community development; as well as trauma informed practices. Through her efforts in partnership development, she has steered EVCC to step ‘outside the box’ and in many positive directions including social enterprise activities, research, mental health practices, parenting programs, training and prevention campaigns for FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and the development of the Central Regional Housing Program for her community. She has held positions on committees locally, provincially and nationally.

Karen is a graduate from the Nova Scotia’s teacher’s college and has over 30 years experience in licensed preschool programs and child development services. She enjoys photography in her spare time and is always available to share in a good belly laugh.